Driven by Paul ‘Bassett’ Booth, the 909 towed the Country Hope trailer in the convoy.

The large crowd voted for the People’s Choice category which was won by Hume Transport’s 2014 Western Star 4800.

The Western Star stands out in the fleet because it is painted blue in celebration of the transport company’s 40th anniversary. Les Brown drives the truck between Melbourne and Sydney.

This year the truck show-and-shine took place on the Albury Showground’s centre arena where trucks were admired by the thousands who passed through the gates.

CMV Wodonga provided a new Mack Trident for the day and it was used to give children rides during the show.

Strongman Derek entertained the crowd by pulling a Dawson’s Kenworth.

Other activities included wood chopping, dancing, market stalls, helicopter rides and live country music.

Trucks were the main attraction, but a car and motorbike show was also a crowd pleaser.

Admission was free for children under 16, and the 140 trucks seemed to be outnumbered by prams.

Family Day

James and Bianca Stewart attended with eight of their nine children. Aged from eight months up to 13 years, the kids gave the family fun day the thumbs up.

They enjoyed the rides, but James says they were just as excited about the trucks.

"They’re truck crazy, so that was enough for them," he says.

James drives a 2008 Kenworth K108 for KJETS and, with help from his family, polished it up for the convoy.

He is on the road five or six nights a week, and was glad to be able to attend the family-friendly event with Bianca and the children.

Andrew Iezzi and his son Xavier, seven, have attended both Albury Convoys and intend to continue the father-and-son tradition.

Andrew drives B-doubles for Hume Transport and drove a Western Star in the convoy.

John Oswald was grateful for support from local business.

"It’s amazing how these people put their hand in their pocket to help you out."

Last year’s convoy raised more than $10,000 and organiser Nikki Grae from Country Hope is confident this year’s tally will be even higher. Funds raised will be divided between Country Hope and Give Me 5 for Kids.

Nikki says the region’s trucking community should feel proud of their contribution to Country Hope and Give Me 5 for Kids.

"It’s important to get behind the charities that support our local sick kids and their families," she says.

"Our local trucking community has been amazing and the support they have shown us leading up to and at the event has been spectacular."

Country Hope has received positive feedback from the event and would like to hold a third convoy.

"But to achieve this we need help," Nikki says.

"We ran on a very small committee of around four people, and luckily had some volunteers on the day. We are looking for a committed team of people to run the event."